GDHQNHL15_2pg-Florida Panthers 2

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he has the size to help him jump
from junior hockey to the NHL.
Campbell is still the
unquestioned leader of the
Panthers defense. He has played
in every game over the last three
seasons and averaged over 26
minutes per game over that
time. The former Norris Trophy
contender could be rejuvenated by
the influx of talent.
Young Erik Gudbranson is in
his third season with the Panthers
since being picked No. 3 overall in 2010 and will be paired with the
veteran Campbell on the team’s top line. And the train of number one
draft picks continues with Dmitry Kulikov, who will start his sixth
season with the team. The Panthers clearly have faith in the Russian
defender, as they gave him a three-year, $13 million contract in the
offseason. He has been with the team longer than any other player.
The forwards will also get a boost on the defensive end of the ice
thanks to free agency. Center Dave Bolland and winger Shawn Thornton
are physical players that will help slow teams in transition. Bolland
and Thornton have two Stanley Cup titles on their resumes, just like
Mitchell. Thornton won with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007 and the
Boston Bruins in 2011. Bolland did so with the Chicago Blackhawks in
both 2010 and 2013.
Goaltending
The one player whose bounce back performance could propel the
Florida Panthers further than any other is goaltender Roberto Luongo.
He was traded from the Vancouver Canucks at the trade deadline after
a contentious end to his tenure with the team. But just three years ago,
Luongo was a Vezina finalist and he was solid over the 14 games he
played as a Panther, posting a 2.46 GAA and a .924 save percentage.
Luongo’s playoff failures have been well documented and seemingly
followed him into the regular season. If he can lead the Panthers to the
postseason , he’ll have a chance at redemption and could make a name for
himself with a new fan base.
Backup Al Montoya has moved around the league but he is coming
off of his beast season. He played to a 2.30 GAA and .920 save percentage
in 28 games for the Winnipeg Jets.
Power Play
The Panthers were at their worst on special teams. The power-play
unit was far and away the worst unit in the league. They finished in
dead last after scoring on just 10 percent of their man advantages, more
than 4 percent poorer than the next worst team. The drop was surprising
considering that they converted 20.4 percent of their power-plays the
previous season. Fixing this unit will be the main concern of new head
coach Gerard Gallant.
Jokinen was brought in as a major piece to this puzzle. As a member
of the Pittsburgh Penuins’ league leading power-play Jokinen score six
goals, three more than any Panthers, and 21 points. But this year he will
be paired with youngsters Barkov and Huberdeau instead of MVPs
Sydney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
Both Campbell and Fleischmann saw their power play numbers drop
sharply from the previous season and they hope to have a better season
under a new regime.
Penalty Kill
The penalty kill
fared no better last
year. It was also the
worst in the league
at 76 percent, over 6
percent worse than
the league average.
Mitchell and
Campbell give the
Panthers two veteran
defensemen to rebuild
the unit around. Along
with Thornton and
Bollard, the team
will have a strong
influx of talent on
the penalty kill.
Of course, a
shorthanded team’s
best friend is a solid
goalie between the
pipes. Former twotime
Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas struggled in the role last season
after returning from a self-imposed retirement. The Panthers hope that
Luongo will elevate a group that can only go up.
Prediction
The Panthers have filled some holes in the offseason and they
have the potential, but it is a long climb up the standings from
where they have been two years in a row. But the team is a prime
candidate to make a rapid rise to the postseason like the franchise
has done in the past.
Scoreboard
2013-14 2012-13 2011-12 2010-11 2009-10
PLAYOFF FINISH DNQ DNQ Conf QF DNQ DNQ
REGULAR SEASON 29-45-8 15-27-6 38-26-18 30-40-12 32-37-13
POINT TOTAL 66 36 94 72 77
SHOOTOUT RECORD 8-6 3-1 6-11 4-7 6-10
GOALS SCORED 196 112 203 195 208
GOALS ALLOWED 268 171 227 229 244
POWER-PLAY % 10.6 20.4 18.6 13.1 14.2
PENALTY KILL % 76.0 74.2 79.5 84.6 79.4
Brian Campbell
Patrick McDermott/NHL/Getty Images